Russia to play key role in Syria's reconstruction process: Assad

DAMASCUS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Monday that Russia will be an important partner in the reconstruction process in Syria, the state news agency reported.

Syria will start reconstruction process as the situation in the country has become more and more stable thanks to the military help of Russia, the report said.

Assad made the remarks during his meeting with a Russian official and economic delegation headed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin.

The president said the consecutive victories achieved in the war on terror in Syria have created the right climate for accelerating and boosting the reconstruction process in the areas destroyed by terrorists.

Such victories will open wide the economic prospects for further cooperation between Syria and Russia, Assad added.

The president said that the Russian stance in support of Syria make Russia a "natural and important" partner in the reconstruction process.

Rogozin said the Russian-Syrian economic cooperation is making progress and more efforts will be exerted by both sides to actively expand the prospects of cooperation to achieve mutual interests.

The Russian official also stressed the readiness of the Russian government and companies to provide all kinds of support and expertise to actively contribute to the reconstruction process in Syria.

Assad added that a number of Russian companies have already started working in Syria with the improvement of the security and economic situations. Enditem